No quick fix for child obesity: health experts

A coalition of health, sport and education groups has called for urgent government action to address childhood obesity in Western Australia.

The Children's Physical Activity Coalition (CPAC) has launched a Charter for Active Kids, which outlines 10 solutions to the problem, including a minimum of 30 minutes exercise each day, better footpaths and cycleways in the community and top training for sport teachers and coaches.

The Chairman of CPAC, Trevor Shilton, says just under a quarter of West Australian children are overweight or obese.

He says there needs to be a shift from talking about the problem to actively addressing it.

"If we want to turn around what's been a generational issue that's taken about 20 years there's no quick fix here," he said.

"We really do need a concerted investment from the government."

Compulsory sport

The Education Minister Mark McGowan says the Government is already doing all it can for school children.

"Sometimes people aren't aware of what's already going on," he said.

"When you have two hours of compulsory sport and recreation, plus healthy canteen menus, I think the main obligation then falls onto parents, to make sure that they're playing their role in keeping their children fit and healthy."